Food Purchasing for Child Care Centers

Section 7: Vendor Choices (Step 4)

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Section 7: Vendor Choices

Lesson Objectives
The learner will be able to

name the vendor choices in his/her community and list some of the advantages and disadvantages of each and write an information sheet for vendors for his/her center.
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Choices Available to You

Depend on the community where your center is located

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Section 7: Vendor Choices

Words Meaning . . .
. . . a business that sells food and supplies:

Vendors Suppliers Stores Distributors Retail vendors Wholesale vendors

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Identifying Your Choices . . .

. . . is called a market area analysis.

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Possible Choices

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Specialty stores Local grocery stores Supermarkets Wholesale clubs Wholesale grocery distributors Institutional distributors Institutional jobbers
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Specialty Stores
Advantages

Exact amounts needed

Local meat/fish market Fresh produce stand

Fresh food

Farmers market
Bread outlet
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Lower prices

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Specialty Stores
Disadvantages

Have limited variety Do not have CN labeled convenience foods Usually do not deliver Takes time to pick up items Make more stops to get food
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Local Grocery Stores

Advantages

Fresh, frozen, and canned foods Convenient location Charge accounts

One check at end of month Use of stores money until receive tuition or government payment
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Local Grocery Stores

Disadvantages

Limited variety of food No CN labeled convenience foods Small cans and packages

More time needed to prepare meals

No delivery
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Supermarkets
Advantages

Wide variety of fresh, frozen, and canned foods Weekly promotions with cost savings

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Section 7: Vendor Choices

11

Supermarkets
Advantages

24/7

No. 10 cans

Reduced time for meal preparation

Charge accounts
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Supermarkets
Disadvantages

No CN labeled convenience foods Limited delivery

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Section 7: Vendor Choices

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Wholesale Clubs
Advantages

Wholesale prices

No. 10 cans and other quantity pack items Phone orders

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Wholesale Clubs
Disadvantages

No charge accounts No CN labeled convenience foods Annual membership fee No delivery

Section 7: Vendor Choices 15

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Wholesale Grocery Distributors

Advantages

Charge accounts Delivery Order by

Salesperson Phone Computer

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Wholesale Grocery Distributors

Disadvantages

Small home-size cans Very few frozen foods No CN labeled convenience foods Minimum delivery requirements possible
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Institutional Distributors
Advantages

Charge accounts Delivery Order by

Salesperson Phone Computer

CN labeled convenience foods

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Institutional Distributors
Disadvantages

Minimum delivery requirements may apply. Containers may be too large for your center.

It is necessary to carefully evaluate your centers needs.

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Institutional Jobbers
Advantages

Food delivered immediately upon being sold Combination of large and home-size containers
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Institutional Jobbers
Disadvantages

Must pay for food when purchased Offer limited selection of food Do not know in advance what is for sale Often do not have refrigerated trucks
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If You Are Not Sure . . .

Ask questions. Ask other

child care centers, schools, restaurants, nursing homes, or hospitals.

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Section 7: Vendor Choices

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If You Are Not Sure . . .

Ask your State CACFP Agency or licensing agency representative. If you have a sponsoring agency, ask its representative.
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If You Are Not Sure . . .

Read the names of companies on the delivery trucks you see.

Copy the phone numbers.

Call the vendors.

Ask the vendors if they are interested in your business.

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Information Sheet for Vendors

Purpose:

Tell vendor about your center Provide credit information

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Information Sheet for Vendors

Name of the center Address

Phone number
Fax number E-mail address
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Information Sheet for Vendors

Organization of the center

Non-profit, for-profit, or public If non-profit, list of members of board of directors If for-profit, list of owners
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Information Sheet for Vendors

Number of meals served daily Days and hours of operation Name, address, and phone number of
the centers bank and the officer who handles the centers account

Names of the centers employees authorized to place food orders

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This training was conducted by the

National Food Service Management Institute

The University of Mississippi

www.nfsmi.org 800-321-3054
National Food Service Management Institute Section 7: Vendor Choices 29

National Food Service Management Institute

The University of Mississippi

Mission: To provide information and services that promote the continuous improvement of child nutrition programs Vision: To be the leader in providing education, research, and resources to promote excellence in child nutrition programs
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